Cost and Value Management in Projects, 2nd Edition

Chapter 9Change Control and Configuration Management

Learning Objectives

After completing this lesson, you should be able to:

• Explain the reasons for significant changes in projects.
• Discuss the reasons for underestimating the impact of project changes on cost and schedule.
• Define configuration management (CM).
• Describe the CM process and its various task elements.
• Discuss the role and enterprise-wide benefits of CM.
• Identify the causes of changes to projects, and how to control those changes.
• Describe the relationship between change control procedures and the configuration control element of CM.
• Outline the essential steps in managing crises in projects.

One of the inevitable features of project management is change, defined as any addition, deletion, or alteration to the scope, nature, quantity, standards, timing, or location of work for a project during implementation. Changes can be frustrating to project managers and teams because they are usually the cause of significant delays and extra costs, particularly when they lead to contract variations. Even so, not all changes are, of themselves, a bad thing. Changes can provide opportunities to improve a project, or to overcome problems. They can occur as the result of new technologies or innovative solutions that will result in a stronger end product. In fact, changes reflect the fact that projects are developed in a dynamic environment that is constantly offering new opportunities and threats. If we objectively consider ...